Coca-Cola Journey Cookie Preferences

Coca-Cola uses cookies to deliver the best possible web experience. By continuing and using this site, you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device. You may change your preference at any timeby going to the "Set Cookies Preferences" section in our cookie policy

3rd Generation Entrepreneur: Following a Family Legacy

Raised in a family filled with entrepreneurs, Janea
Boyles followed in their footsteps.

But she did so unintentionally. The proprietor of The Mercantile food and wine
market in Atlanta says owning her own businesswas
never the path she set out on.

“This was not the plan I made,” she says. “Sometimes
your destiny finds you or sometimes you know what it is. Mine had to find me.”

It wasn’t until Boyles started talking about her
family legacy that she realized the connection. And the more she talked, the
more she discovered what brought that connection full circle: Coca-Cola.

Runs in
the Family

As a third-generation entrepreneur raised in rural
northwest Georgia, Boyles grew up learning the value of hard work and the tricks
of the small business trade. Her father owned a plumbing and electrical supply business for more than 30 years, and had a Coke machine in his store. Her grandfather
ran a successful fruit stand selling Coca-Cola on the side of an old dirt road.

Boyles says working alongside her grandparents is
her fondest memory. Her grandfather, Walt, had a strong relationship with a
Coca-Cola salesman who worked at a nearby bottling plant. From 1953 to 1979, the
Coke salesman provided her grandfather with coolers and signs, even putting
his name on one that read “Walt’s Fruit Stand.” She vividly remembers the days
the cases would arrive, filled with bubbly goodness.

Walt sold bottles of Coca-Cola to passers-by for a
nickel apiece. But the most loyal customers didn’t have to shell out any coins.

He'd also hide extra bottles at the bottom of the ice box for Boyles and her
brother.

“It was such a treat, and definitely my most
special memory growing up,” she recalls, beaming.

A Picture
Worth More Than a Thousand Words

The stand no longer exists, but her memories live
on in a compelling picture. “It’s my prized possession in life,” she says.

In the image, Boyles as a baby is tightly secured
in her grandparent’s arms. Walt’s Fruit Stand acts as the backdrop, displaying
the signature Coca-Cola logo. She says the photo, which now hangs proudly in The
Mercantile, depicts her life journey.

“I was never expected to take over my father’s
business. And starting my own was never part of the discussion.” But, she assures, “I guess it was just meant to
be.”

Open For
Business

Before starting her own business, Boyles worked a
variety of jobs. She tried her hand as a
playwright and gave the 9-to-5 career route a shot. She worked just
about every job in the restaurant industry—except for one—owner. That all
changed with a little push from her longtime friend and business partner,
Samantha Enzmann. Both were living in Oregon, working in the restaurant business
at the time.

“I was standing there washing dishes, and I had
this moment where I thought ‘Gosh, you know what, I can I do this’,” says Boyles,
recalling the 2005 conversation. She went home that day and suggested to
Enzmann that they open their own shop. With no hesitation, her friend replied:
“Let’s do this.”

The Mercantile opened for business in 2008. The
duo decided to return to their roots in Georgia and open shop in a quaint
neighborhood just outside downtown Atlanta. Enzmann works as the head chef
while Boyles manages all the other facets of running a store.

The Mercantile specializes in preparing fresh food
daily. Dishes are made from scratch and available to order in individual
portions or family sizes.

“I'm so proud of what we do here,” exclaims
Boyles. “We provide the option for families to come in and take home a meal
that’s not fast food, not junk food, and that is not loaded with
preservatives.”

The Mercantile
also offers an array of wines, a variety of local and organic goods, and
genuine hospitality. Boyles says she wants her customers to feel at home when
they come in. She also wants them to enjoy what they buy in the comfort of their
own home by promoting family time and peace of mind lost in the city’s hustle and bustle.

The
Coca-Cola Connection

People were perplexed by their business at first,
says Boyles. And their timing wasn’t perfect. Opening in the midst
of the recession, the two struggled getting the store off the ground.

But
failure was not an option. Boyles had a legacy to carry on—a legacy of risk
taking and hard work.

Since The Mercantile’s grand opening five years
ago, Boyles has consistently worked an average of 12 hours a day, six days a
week, only taking a day off every few weeks. The hours may be grueling,
but she's optimistic her hard work will pay off.

And so far it has. The Mercantile celebrated their
break-even point this year. Boyles says she models much of her business after an
Atlanta staple.

“Coca-Cola’s culture is clearly defined, and that
is exactly what we are striving to do here,” she explains. Going back to the
picture she adores so much, Boyles says, “What I have always found fascinating
about Coca-Cola is the way that they strive to build connections with people.”

It’s an idea that has been engrained in her mind since
day one at Walt’s Fruit Stand. As a small business owner, Boyles says she truly
identifies with the brand’s motto, ‘Open Happiness.”

That’s why she follows her entrepreneurial elders
by selling Coca-Cola. The Mercantile’s objective is to bring joy and
comfort to each customer.

“For me…” says Boyles, “owner-to-guest connection is
the majority of what we do here. We are here for our neighbors.”

Janea's 3 Tips For Opening for Business

When you
have a business idea, ask yourself ‘Why is it not already being done’? There
are very few original ideas. So if you think you have a great idea, see why
someone else isn’t doing it already. Hopefully doing research will help expose
your vulnerabilities.

Know what
it costs to open your doors every day. Have a clear understanding on what
the breakeven point is for starting a business.

Make sure
you are properly capitalized. Proper financial backing is crucial to keep a
business going.

TheCoca-ColaCompany(NYSE: KO) is the
world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500
sparkling and stillbrands. Led
byCoca-Cola, one of the
world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features
20 billion-dollar brands including, Diet
Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, POWERADE, Minute Maid,
Simply, Georgia, Dasani, FUZE TEA and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No.
1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice
drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system,
consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy ourbeveragesat a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring
commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on
initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active,healthy living, create a safe, inclusive
work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of
the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we
rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system
associates.